Gaydon, 5 February 2025 – Aston Martin has officially unveiled its latest hypercar, the Valkyrie, marking a bold new chapter in the brand’s storied motorsport heritage. This cutting-edge machine, a pure-bred racer derived from its road-going counterpart, is set to compete for overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since 1959. The Valkyrie is also the only hypercar in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship derived from a production road car, reinforcing Aston Martin’s commitment to bridging the worlds of high-performance road and race engineering.
A Dual Championship Contender
The Aston Martin THOR Team will spearhead the Valkyrie’s racing campaign, fielding two cars in the 2025 WEC season opener, the Qatar 1812Km on 28 February. Notably, the Valkyrie stands apart as the only competitor to contest both the WEC and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the same season, highlighting its versatility and performance potential on both European and North American circuits.
Adrian Hallmark, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, expressed his enthusiasm: “This is a proud moment for Aston Martin. To be returning to the fight for overall honours at Le Mans is at the very core of our values. As the only hypercar born from the road to challenge in both the WEC and IMSA, the Valkyrie embodies our enduring sporting ethos that has defined the brand for over a century.”
All-British Driver Line-Up for Le Mans
Aston Martin’s return to Le Mans is bolstered by an elite driver roster. British endurance racing star Harry Tincknell, a former class winner at Le Mans, will team up with fellow Brit Tom Gamble in the #007 Valkyrie for the full WEC season. The sister #009 car will be piloted by triple FIA GT World Champion Marco Sørensen and WEC LMGT3 class race winner Alex Riberas.
For IMSA, the #23 Valkyrie GTP will be driven by Ross Gunn, a 2024 IMSA GTD Pro championship contender, alongside 2022 GTD class champion Roman De Angelis. Gunn will also join the WEC squad for Le Mans, forming an all-British trio with Tincknell and Gamble in the #007 entry.
Ian James, Team Principal of The Heart of Racing, commented: “For anyone involved in sports car racing, running a car at the highest level with Aston Martin is a tremendous honour. The Valkyrie is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful hypercars ever created, and its racing debut is a career-defining moment for our team.”
Engineering Excellence: The Ultimate Road-Legal Hypercar, Developed for the Track
The Valkyrie’s racing adaptation has been developed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies in collaboration with The Heart of Racing. Unlike its hypercar-class rivals, which are purpose-built race cars, the Valkyrie’s DNA is deeply rooted in road-going performance. Its aerodynamics were originally designed for the road by Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman and F1 legend Adrian Newey, who will soon join Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team as managing technical partner.
Adam Carter, Aston Martin’s Head of Endurance Motorsport, explained: “The Valkyrie is not just a hypercar; it is a revolution in automotive engineering. With an extraordinary fusion of F1 technology and road car mastery, Valkyrie is built for racing, and its participation in world endurance competition will only solidify its status as an engineering marvel.”
Powering the Valkyrie is a highly optimized 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, originally developed by Cosworth. While the road-going version revs up to 11,000 rpm and produces over 1,000bhp, the race-spec version has been refined to comply with hypercar regulations, producing 680bhp. Fuel efficiency has been a key focus in development, with engineers optimizing the torque curve and reducing frictional losses to enhance endurance performance.
Aerodynamics and Performance Optimization
Regulatory constraints have shaped the Valkyrie’s aerodynamic evolution, yet its core design principles remain intact. Key modifications include quick-change front and rear bodywork, a high-speed pneumatic jack system for rapid pitstops, and enhanced safety measures tailored for endurance racing. The hypercar runs on 18-inch Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, mandatory under WEC regulations, and employs a seven-speed sequential Xtrac transmission for rapid gear shifts.
Carter emphasized: “Within the strict parameters of the regulations, we’ve optimized the Valkyrie’s characteristics to extract maximum performance. This car was born from a road-going masterpiece, and we’ve meticulously refined every element for endurance racing.”
Intensive Testing Programme and Race Preparations
Since its initial shakedown in July 2024, the Valkyrie has undergone an extensive 15,000km global testing programme. Beginning in the UK at Donington Park and Silverstone, the test programme expanded to Vallelunga, Jerez, Bahrain, Qatar, Road Atlanta, Sebring, and Daytona—ensuring the car is battle-tested for a dual-championship campaign.
Ian James reflected on the programme’s progress: “I’m pleased with how the Valkyrie has evolved through testing. Reliability is paramount, and we’ve demonstrated exceptional durability in a variety of racing conditions. Our integrated development process, involving AMPT and The Heart of Racing, has positioned us well for a competitive season.”
Two Valkyries will compete in the full WEC season, sporting a striking green livery that pays homage to Aston Martin’s past Le Mans triumphs. As the countdown to the 24 Hours of Le Mans begins, the British marque is poised to reclaim its place among endurance racing’s elite.
Aston Martin’s pursuit of Le Mans glory is not just about speed—it is about legacy. With the Valkyrie, the brand brings its unrivaled heritage, engineering expertise, and racing passion back to the world’s most demanding endurance race. 2025 marks a new era for Aston Martin, and the Valkyrie is ready to lead the charge.
